NORMAL - The sheet of paper from which he would soon read his resignation at hand, Denver Johnson felt compelled to temporarily steer the discussion away from Illinois State's 17-10 overtime loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday at Hancock Stadium. | Johnson resigns | Denver Johnson's prepared statement | BHS grad Kernes hands ISU overtime loss

"I want to tell you something," said Johnson, his voice cracking with emotion. "There is a champion downstairs in that locker room. It's young and maybe not quite complete. But there's a champion in that locker room. Great kids."

Johnson's nine-year tenure as coaching those kids ended Saturday when he stepped down as Redbird coach after the season-ending defeat.

"Coach J told us it was his last game as coach," sophomore safety Kelvyn Hemphill said. "The locker room was extremely emotional already, and it got even more emotional. I love Coach J. Everyone else in the locker room loves Coach J. We are certainly going to miss him as head coach at Illinois State."

While the decision for Johnson to step down was made Saturday morning, Redbird players were not told until after the game.

"When you don't have a great record the last two seasons, you never really know what's going to happen," said senior center Jonathan St-Pierre. "He's been acting with great professionalism. Even right before the game, it was the same intensity. Nothing changed.

"He didn't let it show. I applaud him for that. He says all the time 'I'm there for you guys.' He did that till the end. I wish someday I can carry my business like he does."

Senior tight end Kedric Meredith was feeling pain from both the loss and Johnson's sudden departure.

"I just hurt," Meredith said. "I really wish we could have put together a better season for him. Coach J has always been my coach. I wish he could have went out on better terms. I know football is judged on wins and losses, but some of the stories behind the scenes will go untold. I'm real thankful for him to be my coach."

After a disappointing 4-7 season in 2007, ISU was 3-8 after dropping six of its last seven games. It is the school's first back-to-back losing seasons since 1996-97.

Johnson closes out his Redbird tenure at 48-54.

Only Howard Hancock (57-46-19 from 1931 to '44) and Ed Struck (86-78-14 from 1945 to '64) won more games as ISU coach.

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